Africa Africa Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African state. With a total border length of 3,192 kilometers (1,984 miles), Burkina Faso is bordered by Mali to the north and west; Niger to the east; and Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire to the south. Cameroon Located on the west coast of Central Africa, Cameroon covers an area of 475,400 square kilometers (183,695 square miles), slightly more than California. Land boundaries extend for a total of 4,591 kilometers (2,853 miles) between Nigeria to the northwest, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) to the east, and the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea to the south. Cape Verde Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands and 5 islets situated 483 kilometers (300 miles) due west of Dakar, Senegal, in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Verde's total land area is 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the U.S. Central African Republic The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari, now the Central African Republic (CAR), is well named; it is a landlocked country in the center of the African continent. Land boundaries extend for 5,203 kilometers (3,233 miles) connecting Cameroon to the west, Chad and Sudan to the north, and the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south. Chad The former French colony of Chad, a landlocked country located in northern Central Africa, is more than 3 times the size of California. The country has an area of 1,284,000 square kilometers (495,755 square miles), with a land boundary length of 5,968 kilometers (3,708 miles). Congo, Republic of The; The Republic of the Congo (ROC) is located in Western Africa and has an area of 342,000 square kilometers (132,000 square miles).

It has a modest coastline of 169 kilometers (105 miles) along the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest and shares land borders with Gabon, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic on the west and north. Côte D'ivoire Côte d'Ivoire (which means "Ivory Coast") is a West African country bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Ghana and Liberia. It has an area of 322,460 square kilometers (124,502 square miles) of which 318,000 square kilometers (122,780 square miles) are occupied by land while water occupies the remaining 4,460 square kilometers (1,722 square miles). Djibouti Djibouti is situated in the Horn of Africa, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, bordering the Gulf of Aden.

To the north lies Eritrea with a shared border of 113 kilometers (70 miles); to the north, west, and southwest lies Ethiopia, with a border length of 337 kilometers (209 miles); and to the southeast lies Somalia, with a border length of 58 kilometers (36 miles). Egypt The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in North Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya to the west, the Gaza Strip to the east, and Sudan to the south. With an area of 1,001,450 square kilometers (386,659 square miles) and a coastline of 2,450 kilometers (1,522 miles), Egypt is slightly more than 3 times the size of New Mexico. Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea is a small West African nation of 28,051 square kilometers (10,830 square miles), roughly the same size as Maryland.

It consists of a mainland enclave called Río Muni, on the west coast of Africa bordering Cameroon and Gabon, and 5 small islands off the coast of Cameroon in the Bight of Biafra: Bioko, Annobón, Corisco, and the 2 small islands known together as Islas Elobey. Eritrea Eritrea is an eastern African country occupying an area of 121,320 square kilometers (46,841 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania. It borders Sudan to the north and west, Ethiopia and Djibouti to the south, and the Red Sea to the east. Ethiopia Located in the Horn of Africa— the pointy peninsula-like landmass that emanates out of the eastern part of the continent—Ethiopia has a total area of 1,127,127 square kilometers (935,183 square miles), rendering it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. A landlocked country completely surrounded by other states, Ethiopia has a total border length of 5,311 kilometers (3,300 miles).

Gabon The Gabonese Republic lies along the equator on the west coast of Africa with a border length of 2,551 kilometers (1,585 miles) and a coastline of 885 kilometers (550 miles). Gabon is bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Equatorial Guinea (350 kilometers/218 miles) and Cameroon (298 kilometers/185 miles), and to the east and south by the Republic of the Congo (1,903 kilometers/1,183 miles). The Gambia The Republic of The Gambia measures 11,295 square kilometers (4,361 square miles) and consists of a long narrow ribbon of land sitting astride the river Gambia, one of the major waterways in West Africa. Apart from the 50-kilometer (31-mile) stretch of coastline on the Atlantic ocean, it is entirely surrounded by Senegal. Ghana The Republic of Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, is a West African country lying on the Gulf of Guinea.

It has a total border of 2,093 kilometers (1,300 miles), including 548 kilometers (341 miles) with Burkina Faso to the north, 688 kilometers (428 miles) with Côte d'Ivoire to the west, and 877 kilometers (545 miles) with Togo to the east. Guinea Guinea lies on the West African coast, bordered by Sierra Leone and Liberia to the south, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to the north, and Mali and Côte d'Ivoire inland to the east. It has 320 kilometers (199 miles) of coastline, and a land area of 245,857 square kilometers (94,925 miles). Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau lies on the west coast of Africa, with Senegal to the north and Guinea to the east and south. With a total area of 36,120 square kilometers (13,946 square miles), the country is a bit less than 3 times the size of the U.S.

Kenya Located in east Africa, Kenya has a total area of 582,650 square kilometers (224,962 square miles), rendering it slightly larger than twice the size of Nevada. With a coastline of 536 kilometers (333 miles), Kenya borders the Indian Ocean to the east, Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, and Tanzania to the south. Malawi Malawi is located in southeast Africa, landlocked between Mozambique to the east and south, Zambia to the west, and Tanzania to the north. Malawi is separated from Mozambique and Tanzania to a large extent by Lake Malawi, which lies on the country's eastern edge. Mali Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa covering an area of 1.24 million square kilometers (478,764 square miles), of which 1.22 million square kilometers (471,042 square miles) is occupied by land and 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles) is occupied by water.

Its border is 7,243 kilometers (4,500 miles) long. Mauritania Located in northwestern Africa, bordered by Western Sahara (occupied by Morocco) and Algeria on the north, by Mali on the east and south, by Senegal on the southwest, and by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, the country has an area of 1,030,700 square kilometers (398,000 square miles), making it slightly larger than 3 times the size of New Mexico. Its total estimated boundary length is 5,828 kilometers (3,622 miles), including 754 kilometers (469 miles) of coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Mozambique Located in southeast Africa, Mozambique has a total area of 801,590 square kilometers (309,493 square miles)—an expanse which is slightly less than twice the size of the state of California. The coastline of the country, which spans 2,470 kilometers (1,535 miles) along the entire eastern frontier, borders the Mozambique Channel and the Indian Ocean.

Namibia The Republic of Namibia lies across the Tropic of Capricorn in the south of Africa and covers an area of 824,292 square kilometers (318,259 square miles), making it slightly more than half the size of Alaska. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Botswana and Zimbabwe on the east, Angola on the north, and the South Atlantic Ocean on the west. Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda is a land-locked country located in central Africa. It is bordered on the east by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with which it shares the shores of Lake Kivu; on the north by Uganda; on the west by Tanzania; and on the south by Burundi. São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe is located in the Gulf of Guinea 290 kilometers (180 miles) west of Gabon, which is located on the western edge of Africa.

The 2 mountainous main islands of the republic are São Tomé and Príncipe; other rocky islets include Caroco, Pedras, and Tinhosas off Príncipe Island, and Rolas off São Tomé Island. Senegal A relatively small country located in West Africa, Senegal has a total area of 196,190 square kilometers (75,748 square miles), making it slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota. Water composes 4,190 square kilometers (1,618 square miles) of this area, while the coastline, which borders the North Atlantic Ocean, stretches for 531 kilometers (330 miles). Seychelles The Seychelles are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean about 925 kilometers (575 miles) northeast of Madagascar. The country consists of 115 small islands with a total land area of 455 square kilometers (176 square miles) and a total coastline of 491 kilometers (305 miles).

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone is located in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 71,740 square kilometers (27,925 square miles) and a total coastline of 402 kilometers (250 miles). The country shares a border with Guinea in the north and east and with Liberia in the southeast. Somalia Somalia, formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal country covering a land area of 637,657 square kilometers (246,199 square miles) and a water area of 10,320 square kilometers (3,985 square miles), with a land-bordered circumference of 2,366 kilometers (1,470 miles). It has a coastline of 3,025 kilometers (1,880 miles) stretching along the Indian Ocean to the southeast and along the Gulf of Aden in the southern mouth of the Red Sea to the north. South Africa South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.

Ranging from west to east across its northern border are the neighboring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; Mozambique lies to the east, as does the small nation of Swaziland, which is nearly encircled by South Africa. Sudan Sudan is located in North Africa. Sudan borders the following countries: Central African Republic (1,165 kilometers, 724 miles), Chad (1,360 kilometers, 845 miles), Democratic Republic of the Congo (628 kilometers, 390 miles), Egypt (1,273 kilometers, 791 miles), Eritrea (650 kilometers, 404 miles), Ethiopia (1,606 kilometers, 998 miles), Kenya (232 kilometers, 144 miles), Libya (383 kilometers, 238 miles), and Uganda (435 kilometers, 270 miles).

Swaziland Swaziland is a small landlocked country in southern Africa, with an area of 17,363 square kilometers (6,704 miles), extending 176 kilometers (109 miles) north to south and 135 kilometers (84 miles) east to west. By comparison, it is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Tanzania A relatively large country located in East Africa, Tanzania has a total area of 945,087 square kilometers (364,900 square miles), rendering it slightly larger than twice the size of California. The area of Tanzania includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Unguja; the latter 2 form a semi-autonomous region called Zanzibar that is part of an official union with the republic of Tanzania. Tunisia Situated in northern Africa, Tunisia is bordered by Algeria on the west and Libya on the southeast and by the Mediterranean Sea on the north, where it has a coastline of 1,148 kilometers (713 miles).

Tunisia has an area of 163,610 square kilometers (63,169 square miles), making it slightly larger than the state of Georgia. Uganda A landlocked state in Eastern Africa, west of Kenya and east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), Uganda has an area of 236,040 square kilometers (146,675 square miles) and a total land boundary of 2,698 kilometers (1,676 miles). Comparatively, the area occupied by Uganda is slightly smaller than the size of Oregon. Liberia:Introduction to Country Context - AHO Introduction to Country Context Trial version, Version d'essai, Versão de teste Introduction to Country Context Jump to: navigation , search The Republic of Liberia is situated on the west coast of Africa, bounded by Guinea to the north, Côte D’Ivoire to the east, Sierra Leone to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It is a relatively small nation, covering approximately 111 369 km2 and has a population of fewer than 4 million people.

Liberia contains 40% of West Africa’s rainforest. The climate is tropical with a wet season from mid-April to mid-October and a dry season from mid-October to mid-April. The country is divided into 15 political subdivisions, called counties: Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, Rivercess, River Gee and Sinoe. Monrovia is Liberia’s largest city and serves as its administrative, commercial and financial capital. Liberia’s population is estimated to be 3 476 608, with an annual growth rate of approximately 2.1%. [1] As a result of greater security in urban centres during war times and greater access to jobs, services and social gratification during peace time, 47% of the population lives in urban areas. According to the 2008 National population and housing census , the population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

[1] Liberia’s population is young, with approximately 52.7% of the population under the age of 20 years. The relatively young population, combined with factors such as high rates of teenage pregnancy (32%) and low levels of contraceptive prevalence (11% overall; 7% in rural areas) contribute to Liberia’s high total fertility rate of 5.9 children per woman. [2] Education remains a major challenge for Liberia. Adult literacy (for those 15 years or older) is 59.1%, an improvement over the national average of 42.8% in 1994, though still lower than the regional average for sub-Saharan Africa (61.9%). [3] The gross enrolment ratio at primary school level between 2005 and 2009 was 96% for males and 86% for females. The Liberia demographic and health survey 2007 shows that literacy among adult women is far lower (41%) than for men (70%).

[4] The difference is much larger at older ages; only 17% of women ages 45─49 years are literate, compared with 62% of men. Although the discrepancies in literacy by sex have declined among the younger generations, large gaps remain: only 58% of women age 15─19 years are literate, compared with 73% of men age 15─19 years. According to the 2010 United Nations Development Programme's Human development report , Liberia ranked 162nd out of 169 countries and 13th out of the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries in the Human Development Index. The report states that the average life expectancy in Liberia was 59 years, the adult literacy rate was 55% and the combined gross school enrolment was 57%. Progress is being made on some of the Millennium Development Goals , for example access to improved drinking water and school enrolment are both improving but the impact of the civil conflict will make it difficult to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals.

According to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s 2010 economic outlook, Liberia’s 2010 estimated per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was US$ 247, down from peak at US$ 970 (80%) in 1980. In June 2010, Liberia completed the heavily indebted poor countries process and received a total external debt cancellation of US$ 4.6 billion (equivalent to 800% of GDP). However, while the economy is reviving, in light of the global economic contraction, gradually reducing donor support and the number of competing national priorities, the funds available for health and social welfare are unpredictable for the next 10 years. A large number of Liberians remain unemployed and the economy is highly dependent on sectors based on natural resources. Fiscal resources, while enhanced recently through foreign aid, remain limited. The ratio of tax to GDP is only 0.3%, representing a major constraint on the Government of Liberia’s ability to invest in infrastructure, health and education.

Liberia Guide Liberia Guide click to zoom Located on the west coast of Africa, Liberia is bordered by Guinea in the north, Ivory Coast to the east, Sierra Leone on the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and southwest. There are three distinct geographical belts lying parallel to the coast. The low coastal belt is about 50 miles wide, with tidal creeks, shallow lagoons and mangrove marshes. The land then rises abruptly, forming a great belt of high forest with elevations of 600 to 1,000 feet. Inland is a plateau 1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level, where the forest is dense. The Nimba Mountains, near the Guinea border, rise to 4,200 feet, and the Waulo Mountains to 4,500 feet. Of the six principal rivers, all of which are at right angles to the coast, and flow into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Cavally, which separates Liberia from the Ivory Coast, is navigable for more than a few miles. Sandbars obstruct the mouths of all rivers, making entrance hazardous.

West Africa West Africa Questions Regional Characteristics Located in sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa is defined by a series of elongated countries that border the Atlantic Ocean, with an exception of Burkina Faso. The countries are small in area compared to the other parts of Africa. Western Africa makes up the largest population cluster in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the population lives in the southern coastal area, along the Atlantic, a result of European trading that led to economic development beginning in the 1200s. The area consists of plateaus with coastal plains. The coastal areas have a tropical climate while the northern areas transition to savannas. The countries to the north that extend across the southern Sahara tend to be very large, mostly steppe, and contain a lot of deserts. While the remaining West African countries tend to be smaller, elongated and have wetter environments. West African agriculture is based on cash crops for exports in the coastal trade areas. There are many different sorts of exports that come out of Western Africa. The most common crops are peanuts, sorghum, cotton, rice, cassava, coffee, and livestock.

One of the most important crops for countries like Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana is cacao, which is grown in the fertile soil of the wet areas. The countries of West Africa have incomes to a large extent derived from the sale of their products on the international market. The Europeans developed the coastal areas for trade. The people living along the coasts became the middlemen in trade, especially in the slave trade. They experienced changes of the colonial period in education, religion, urbanization, agriculture, politics, and health. The people living in the interior experienced less change, which resulted in divisions among people. All of the countries, except Liberia, experienced colonial control. The Portuguese settled in Guinea-Bissau. Togo was a German settlement. The British colonies were Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. The French colonized the remainder of West Africa, except Liberia, which remained independent. No coastal or interior railroad transportation system was developed, so the countries are not interdependent economically. Railroads were developed but they ran perpendicular to the coastal areas to transport goods and minerals to be exported. The population distribution is coastal corresponding to the major economic regions. The southern half of the region is home to the majority of the people.

Total population of the area is 210 million. Nigeria is the largest country with 123.3 million. The next most populous country is Ghana with 19.5 million people. Smaller countries include Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin. West African culture is expressed in architecture, arts, music and dance. There are more than one thousand languages. In Nigeria over 250 languages are used so all school instruction takes place in English. Muslim and Christianity are the primary religions, although there are many different religions practiced. Many people use the barter system to buy and sell goods at the markets in rural areas. Countries At 123.3 million, Nigeria is the largest country in Western Africa having 59 percent of the entire population of sub-Saharan Africa. The country has two distinct climates. A tropical climate dominates along the coast that brings heavy rainfall and high humidity. In the north there are dry, dusty winds that come from the Sahara. English is the official language of Nigeria, but the most commonly used language is Hausa, a lingua franca in West Africa.

Nigeria gained independence in 1960 and established a federal political system that divided the country into three areas based on culture. The Yoruba, located in the southwest, are people with a long history of urbanization and agriculture. Their capital, Lagos, was the first capital and now has a population of 12 million people. The Ibo people, with a population of 20 million, live in the southwest around Port Harcourt. They are less urbanized, more densely populated, and were less affected by the changes colonialism brought. The third area is the north where the Muslim population is separated from the rest of the country by location and traditional conservatism. At least 45 percent of Nigeria's population practices the Muslim religion. The federal system failed and led to a civil war from 1967 to 1971 between ethnic groups. Today, Nigeria has a large Muslim population in the north and Christians in the south. In recent years, the relationship between these two groups has worsened. Nigerian society is being torn in two directions and the breakdown of this country would be tremendous tragedy. The country's economy is dependent on the oil reserves located in the Niger delta around Port Harcourt.

Oil accounts for 90% of Nigeria's exports. Nigeria is a member of OPEC but does not have control of oil prices, which have a large impact on its economy. Those who control the oil subjugate the people. The Republic of Benin borders Nigeria on the east. It gained independence in 1960 under the name of Dahomey, and was renamed in 1975 as Benin. The population is only about 6.4 million. The official language is French, but most speak an African language. Most of Benin's population is engaged in agriculture of some kind, whether it is for cash crops or to feed their families. The average salary is only $380.00 per year. On the western side of Benin lies a small country, Togo. Togo is also a republic. It was a German colony until W.W.I when Germany lost all of its African territories. They have a tropical climate, which secures the crops of cassava, coffee, yams, and sorghum. About 78 percent of the labor force works in agriculture. Togo is a leading producer of phosphates.

Ghana, west of Togo, was once called the Gold Coast. As a British colony it was the first black nation in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence in 1957. The population of Ghana is 19.5 million. The most important export is cacao, which is grown by many small-scale farmers. Following cacao, the most common exports are coconut oil, tobacco, citrus fruits, and a variety of other commodities. Gold and diamonds are also exported from Ghana. Compared to other African countries, Ghana is well developed in manufacturing. The establishments are usually small businesses like sawmills, printing companies, and furniture building. There are a few large scaled operations that produce mostly beer, cigarettes, and nails. The GNP per capita is $390.00 a year. Burkina Faso, formally known as Upper Volta, is the only country that does not have an Atlantic border. Burkina Faso is known to have rich deposits of manganese, gold, copper, and iron ore. There is little water supply in this country so irrigation is not possible. Only about 10 percent of the land is cultivated, and 37 percent is pasture.

There is a large rural population in Burkina Faso. The population is 11.9 million. The country has many types of wild animals; elephants, hippopotamuses, and crocodiles are the most commonly seen. The Ivory Coast, or Cote dï¿½Ivoire, borders Ghana to the east. It gained independence from France in 1960. The economy developed lower-middleclass income based on the cash crops of coffee and cocoa. The land has rich soil that favors agriculture and the dense forests that are found there. The population of Ivory Coast is 16 million. At least three million of those are immigrant workers and their families. The former president of Ivory Coast built an extravagant capital, which includes a replica of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This creation caused public resentment and great economic strain on the country. Liberia, located west of the Ivory Coast, was never colonized. Freed slaves returning from America founded the area in the early 1800's. Due to a civil war in the 1990's over political control, Liberia's rubber plantations and iron mines ceased to function.

As a result of the ensuing political and economic turmoil, 10 percent of the entire population died. A majority of the population is indigenous Africans who make up more than 15 ethnic groups. The largest are the Kpelle and Bassa. The descendants of the emancipated slaves who migrated from the United States makes up no more than 5 percent of the population. The overall population of Liberia is only 3.2 million people. Sierra Leone is an independent nation that borders Liberia on its eastern side. Its population is 5.2 million people with a natural increase of only 2.6 percent. A bulk of the population is engaged in subsistence farming. Minerals are the country's principle export. The staple food crop of Sierra Leone is rice. Imports of rice are still needed because they cannot grow a sufficient amount for themselves. Sierra Leone is the world's leader of rutile, a titanium ore, which produces half of all earnings. Guinea, from the former French Empire, is one of the least developed countries in West Africa. It lies just west of Sierra Leone. The population of Guinea is 7.5 million. The ethnic make up of Guinea is very diverse.

About 85 percent of the people are Muslim, the remainder follow traditional beliefs. The official language is French but the country has eight national languages. Mineral wealth makes Guinea potentially one of the strongest in Africa. More than 25 percent of the known world reserves of high-grade bauxite ore, used for the making of aluminum, are found here. Large amounts of iron ore also exist along with diamonds, gold, petroleum, cobalt and platinum. Guinea has great potential with all of its natural resources, but manufacturing facilities are lagging. Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, is a small country to the west of Guinea. Its population is only 1.2 million people. Most of these people are subsistence farmers. For their staple crop they grow mostly rice, cassava, and maize. For export, peanuts and cashew nuts are the most dominant. Cattle ranching are very common in the interior of Guinea-Bissau. Manufacturing is limited to the processing of raw materials and production of basic goods. The official language is Portuguese, but Creole, a mixture of Portuguese and African, is most common. Senegal lies west of Guinea-Bissau.

Senegal's development is due to the cash crops coffee and cocoa. Its economy is dependent on the export of peanuts and phosphates and on its fishing industry. The overall population is 9.5 million people with a natural increase of 2.8 percent. French is the official language. About 90 percent of the people are Sunni Muslim. Senegal has a growing industrial sector that is one of the largest in Western Africa. Nevertheless the economy is still driven by the one single crop of peanuts. The last of the countries in Western Africa is Gambia. Senegal surrounds this country; with only it's western side on the Atlantic Ocean. Gambia has a population of only 1.3 million with an increase of only 2.4 percent. The people of Gambia are mostly Muslim. The official language is English, but each ethnic group has it's own language. About three fourths of the people live in rural villages. The main natural resource is the Gambia River. The country's soil is mostly poor and sandy, except in the swamps. The land is ideal for peanuts, which the economy depends on. References Bradshaw, M. (1997). A World Regional Geography: The New Global Order.

Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark. Rowntree, L., Lewis, M., Price, M., & Wyckoff, W. (2000). Diversity Amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2000 World Population Data Sheet of the Population Reference Bureau. (2000). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. Questions 1. Which of the following is the single most important export of Senegal: a. bananas b. peanuts c. fish d. maize e. livestock 2. The population of Western Africa is: a. 210 million b. 174 million c. 182.3 million d. 85.2 million e. 198 million 3. What country was founded by freed slaves in the early 1800's: a. Nigeria b. Liberia c. Senegal d. Gambia e. Benin 4. Which of the following countries is not located in the West African sub region: a. Sierra Leone b. Benin c. Ivory Coast d. Liberia e. Gabon 5.

The African country with the largest population is: a. Nigeria b. South Africa c. Kenya d. Egypt e. Ethiopia 6. The most stable and prosperous country in West Africa is: a. Nigeria b. Ghana c. Senegal d. Liberia e. Ivory Coast 7. Which of the following countries was not a colony of France: a. Ivory Coast b. Chad c. Nigeria d. Senegal e. Tunisia 8. The most heavily populated country of the African continent, which comprises a confederation of the Yoruba, Ibo, and northern Moslem peoples is: a. Zimbabwe b. Kenya c. South Africa d. Nigeria e. Egypt 9. Nigeria's dominant export commodity, produced in quantities in the zone surrounding the Niger Delta, is: a. coal b. oil c. iron ore d. coffee e. bauxite 10. Which of the following is not an export of West Africa: a. peanuts b. sorghum c. cocoa d. horses e. livestock 11. Port Harcourt, which contains valuable oil reserves, is located in: a.

Ghana b. Liberia c. Ivory Coast d. Nigeria 12. Senegal completely surrounds this country excluding a small Atlantic coast: a. Ghana b. Gambia c. Guinea d. Guinea-Bissau 13. The staple food of Sierra Leone is: a. maize b. beef c. rice d. potatoes e. beans 14. Most of the farming in West Africa: a. uses irrigation; b. is done by migrant workers traveling on the railway system; c. is sustenance; d. is washed away by frequent floods. 15. Which of the following is not a major religion in West Africa: a. Christianity b. Islam c. Hindu d.

Native religions Submitted by Renee O'Doherty on 12-6-96 Resubmitted by Shanda Stick 4-28-97 Resubmitted by Sarah Meland 12-01-00 Political Map of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon - Atlapedia® Online Algeria Algeria is located in North Africa midway along the Mediterranean coastline. It is bound by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Morocco to the west, Mauritania and Mali to the southwest, Niger to the southeast, Libya to the east and Tunisia to the northeast.... Burkina Faso Burkina is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is bound by Mali to the north and west, Niger to the northeast and east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south and the Ivory Coast to the southwest.... Cameroon Cameroon is located in Central West Africa.

It is bound by Equatorial Guinea to the southwest, Gabon to the south, Congo to the southeast, the Central African Republic to the east, Chad to the northeast, Nigeria to the northwest and the Gulf of Guinea to the west.... Ivory Coast Ivory Coast in Africa The Ivory Coast ( Cote d’Ivoire ) is located in West Africa . Bordering countries are Liberia and Guinea to the west, Mali and Burkina Faso to the north and Ghana in the east. The official language is French are also spoken on several native languages. One of them is Dioula, a Mandingsprache that has reached the north of the country already, a lingua franca of similar status. Other major indigenous languages ​​are Baoulé, Bété and Senoufo. There are dry and rainy seasons. ivory coast Is favorable for the purchase of gold jewelery, but only for locals in the shops. Calculated per gram of gold is only, you can all jewelry for example, a photo copy lassen.Die closures of chains, etc. are usually very simple, with no spring mechanism made. Otherwise, almost everything is more expensive than in Europe, as is much of Europe and now also imported from China.

When traveling to Cote d’Ivoire, especially outside the city of Abidjan, is pointed to an increased safety risk, especially in the west of the country, it always comes back to risk criminal Übergriffen.Das politically or socially motivated unrest remains latent even after the relaxation has occurred since 2007. Because of the crime and the risks of the road trips should be undertaken only during the day in all parts of the country. The access road to Abidjan since the crisis are already clock in the evening from 22:00 to 05:00 clock in the morning closed in both directions for traffic. ivory coast abidjan West Africa - Trade - European Commission European Commission Countries and regions West Africa The EU has initialled an Economic Partnership Agreement with 16 West African states, the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union ( WAEMU ). Pending the adoption of the regional EPA with West Africa, "stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreements" with Ivory Coast and Ghana entered into provisional application respectively on 3 September 2016 and 15 December 2016.

Trade picture West Africa is the EU's largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. The EU is West Africa's biggest trading partner. The EU supplies a large part of the equipment that contributes to economic growth and development in the region and is the main export market for West African agricultural and fisheries products. Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria account for 80% of West Africa's exports to the EU. Despite ongoing regional integration processes in the region, barriers to intra-regional trade remain a challenge for the economies in West Africa. Regional trade lags behind compared to trade with developed and emerging countries outside Africa. All the countries in West Africa except for Liberia are members of the WTO. Liberia is currently going through the accession process with full support of the EU. In terms of sectors, West Africa's exports to the EU consist mainly of fuels and food products. West Africa's imports from the EU consist of fuels, food products, machinery, and chemicals and pharmaceutical products. EU – West Africa trade in services is expanding, covering notably transportation and logistics, travel, and business services. West Africa is also the most important investment destination for the EU in Africa.

EU-West Africa "trade in goods" statistics Trade in goods 2013-2015, € billions Year More statistics on West Africa EU and West Africa The Economic Partnership Agreement with West Africa covers goods and development cooperation. The EPA also included the possibility to hold further negotiations on sustainable development, services, investment and other trade-related issues in the future. The EPA will help West Africa to integrate better into the global trading system and will support investment and economic growth in the region. For West Africa, the EPA will increase exports to the EU, stimulate investment and contribute to developing productive capacity, with a positive effect on employment. The EPA will support necessary reforms and promote economic and social development. Its implementation will strengthen regional integration. For the EU, it opens new business opportunities and increases legal certainty for European investors in the region. It gives both partners practical tools for solving any potential problem and stepping up trade cooperation Liberia | history - geography | Britannica.com Country Data Overview (PDF) Liberia, country along the coast of western Africa . Liberia’s terrain ranges from the low and sandy coastal plains to rolling hills and dissected plateau further inland. The country is home to a lush rainforest containing a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Government buildings in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. Albrecht G. Schaefer/Corbis Liberia is the only black state in Africa never subjected to colonial rule and is Africa’s oldest republic. It was established on land acquired for freed U.S. slaves by the American Colonization Society , which founded a colony at Cape Mesurado in 1821. In 1824 the territory was named Liberia, and its main settlement was named Monrovia , which is the present-day capital. Liberian independence was proclaimed in 1847, and its boundaries were expanded. The country enjoyed relative stability until a rebellion in 1989 escalated into a destructive civil war in the 1990s that did not fully cease until 2003. The country’s first post-conflict elections, held in 2005, were noteworthy for the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the presidency, as she was the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa.

Land Liberia is bounded by Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Côte d’Ivoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Relief The four physiographic regions of Liberia parallel the coast. The coastal plains are about 350 miles (560 km) long and extend up to 25 miles (40 km) inland. They are low and sandy, with miles of beaches interspersed with bar-enclosed lagoons, mangrove swamps, and a few rocky promontories—the highest being Cape Mount (about 1,000 feet [305 metres] in elevation) in the northwest, Cape Mesurado in Monrovia, and Cape Palmas in the southeast. Parallel to the coastal plains is a region of rolling hills some 20 miles (32 km) wide with an average maximum elevation of about 300 feet (90 metres); a few hills rise as high as 500 feet (150 metres). It is a region suitable for agriculture and forestry.

Behind the rolling hills, most of the country’s interior is a dissected plateau with scattered low mountains ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet (180 to 305 metres) in elevation; some mountains rise to 2,000 feet (600 metres). A striking feature of the mountainous northern highlands along the Guinea frontier is Mount Nimba. Mount Nimba, the highest peak of the Nimba Range, which extends along the Guinea–Côte … G. Debonnet/UNESCO Buchanan The climate, especially on the coast, is warm and humid year-round, dominated by a dry season from November to April and by a rainy season from May to October. The dusty and dry harmattan (desert winds) blow from the Sahara to the coast in December, bringing relief from the high relative humidity. Deforestation and drought in the Sahel have affected the climate, lengthening the dry season by almost a month in some areas. Mean annual temperatures range between 65° F (18° C) in the northern highlands to 80° F (27° C) along the coast.

Rainfall is irregular, and the rainy season varies in intensity and begins earlier at the coast than in the interior. The greatest amount of rainfall, 205 inches (5,200 mm), occurs at Cape Mount and diminishes inland to about 70 inches (1,800 mm) on the central plateau. The interior has hot but pleasant days and cool nights during the dry season. Plant and animal life Liberia has year-round evergreen vegetation. Many trees—such as red ironwood, camwood, whismore, teak, and mahogany—are valuable, but occur with other species, preventing easy harvest. Other trees of value are rubber, cacao, coffee, and the raffia palm. Liberia’s rainforest used to abound with animals such as monkeys, chimpanzees, small antelopes, pygmy hippopotamuses, and anteaters. However, these animals, along with the already threatened elephants, bush cows (short-horned buffalo), and leopards, were hunted for food during the civil war; their populations are recovering. There are many reptiles, including three types of crocodiles and at least eight poisonous snakes.

There are several unique species of bats and birds, and scorpions, lizards, and fish are numerous. Sapo National Park, established in 1983 in the country’s southeast, was expanded in 2003 to encompass an area of some 700 square miles (1,800 square km). The 2000s saw an expansion of protected regions in Liberia, with new and enlarged wildlife reserves at Gola National Forest, the Wonegizi National Forest Reserve, and Lake Piso, and ecotourism was seen as a potential growth industry for the country. People flag of Liberia The present pattern of population distribution in Liberia is both a reflection of its migration history and a response to such social, economic, and cultural factors as war, employment, and superstition. Migrants from north-central Africa, who began to arrive in the 13th century, originally settled in the hinterlands but were driven by overcrowding to the coast. Immigrants from the United States and the West Indies , and from neighbouring African countries, also settled on the coast.

The former migrated mostly to selected areas such as Monrovia (the oldest immigrant settlement), Buchanan , Edina, Greenville, Harper, Robertsport , and Marshall. Scattered settlements were created along newly constructed or improved roads, while plantation and mining activities encouraged larger settlements in a few interior and coastal areas. There are more than 2,000 villages, the majority of which are concentrated in central Liberia, in the northwest, and in the coastal region near Monrovia. The predominantly forested regions of south-central and northern Liberia have remained sparsely populated. The trend toward urbanization has had little impact on these villages. The result has been the segmentation of Liberian society into two coexisting subsystems—traditional-rural and modern-urban. Monrovia , founded in 1822, is the focal point of political, economic, and cultural activities. Situated on the left bank of the St. Paul River on the ridge formed by Cape Mesurado, it commands an imposing view of the Atlantic Ocean and the coastal plains. The city and its outlying districts and suburbs occupy five square miles.

The old style of architecture that once characterized it, reminiscent of that of the southern United States before 1860, is giving way to contemporary styles. All of the ethnic groups of Liberia are represented in its population, as are refugees, African nationals from other countries, and Europeans. Demographic trends More than two-fifths of the population of Liberia is under age 15; less than 5 percent is older than 65. The country’s birth and death rates are similar to or greater than those of other sub-Saharan African countries and are among the highest in the world. Life expectancy, about 39 years for males and 42 years for females, is lower than that of most neighbouring countries and is among the lowest in the world. It fell as a result of the civil war and strife that began in the late 1980s and continued until 2003. About three-fifths of the population lives in urban communities , and there is a high rural-to-urban movement, especially to Monrovia. Other destinations include enclaves around rubber plantations and mines. Economy The Liberian economy is predominantly agrarian, and raw materials, equipment, and consumer goods are imported.

Production for export is carried out on a large scale through foreign investment in rubber, forestry, and mining. Foreign ships registering under a Liberian “flag of convenience” have made Liberia one of the world’s foremost countries in registered shipping tonnage. Liberia nevertheless remains primarily agricultural. The distribution of wealth is uneven, the coastal districts receiving a greater share of economic benefits than the hinterland, after which the administrative centres are the next beneficiaries. After the mid-1970s the once-vibrant economy took a sharp downturn. Between 1976 and 1980 sluggish demand and low prices stagnated the economy and the annual growth rate plunged. But gradual signs of recovery appeared, especially in agriculture and forestry. In the early 1990s, however, civil war disrupted Liberia’s economy. Since the end of the conflict in 2003, and particularly after a democratically elected government was inaugurated in early 2006, efforts to rebuild the country’s economic infrastructure have been under way.

Liberia is a member of two regional economic unions—the Mano River Union, a free trade group to which Sierra Leone and Guinea also belong, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Agriculture is the leading sector of the economy. About half the land area is suitable for cultivation, though a small percentage is actually cultivated . Commercial farms are often operated by foreigners. Traditional farms, which comprise the largest number, are usually cultivated by slash-and-burn methods. Traditional farmers practice mixed cultivation of rice , cassava (manioc), and vegetables. They also raise goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks. Cultivation of cash crops such as coffee, cacao (grown for its seeds, cocoa beans), oil palm, sugarcane, and swamp rice is increasing. Domestic rice production meets about three-fourths of the country’s needs. The rest is imported, principally from East Asia. Liberia’s climate is suitable for rubber production; the necessary plants thrive on the country’s poor soils. In 1926 the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of the United States obtained a concession for rubber cultivation.

Rubber has become by far the country’s most valuable commercial crop, with coffee and cacao increasing in importance. Kola nuts, peanuts, and cotton are also produced, and cattle and pigs are raised. Rainforests produce fine hardwood timber, especially in the east of the country, but also in the centre and in the west. Timber concessions operate in the southeast and northwest. Substantial amounts of timber are produced, but exploitation of the forest resources is difficult because of poor roads and shortage of labour. Of the approximately 250 species of forest trees about 90 are marketable. In 2003 the United Nations (UN) placed an embargo on timber exports from Liberia, crippling the domestic forestry sector. These sanctions were lifted in 2006, and the industry was slow to recover. Deep-sea fishing is important, and the catch is largely mackerel, barracuda, and red snapper. Kru and Fanti fishermen, the latter from Ghana , have traditionally been the suppliers of fish to coastal areas but are supplemented by Liberian fishing companies. Inland fish-breeding ponds provide a source of protein. Resources and power Liberia is rich in natural resources.

Prior to the civil war, it was among the leading producers of iron ore in Africa. Its sizable reserves are found primarily in four areas: the Bomi Hills , the Bong Range , the Mano Hills, and Mount Nimba, where the largest deposits occur. Other minerals include diamonds , gold, lead, manganese, graphite, cyanite (a silicate of aluminum, with thin bladelike crystals), and barite. There are possible oil reserves off the coast. During the civil war, iron production ground to a halt, and diamond exports were banned by the UN in 2001, in an effort to halt the traffic of “blood” or “conflict” diamonds. (See map illustrating the diamonds-for-weapons trade that had taken place in Africa by the end of the 20th century.) The diamond trade was resumed with the removal of sanctions in 2007, under the auspices of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, an international program that ensures that the rough diamond trade does not finance armed conflict. There is vast potential for the development of hydroelectric power, as virtually all of Liberia’s installed hydroelectric capacity was damaged or destroyed as a result of the civil war.

The Mount Coffee hydroelectric station on the St. Paul River, once responsible for providing much of Monrovia’s power, was destroyed in the early days of the conflict. Reconstruction of the facility and electrification of Liberia’s rural countryside were two critical issues that faced the country in the postwar period. Access to potable water was severely limited by the civil war, and from 1990 to 2005 tap water was unavailable in Monrovia. However, surface water is abundant, and groundwater reserves are ample and regularly replenished by the country’s heavy rainfall. Manufacturing To export the ores, iron interests have built railroads connecting the mines with Monrovia and Buchanan. Iron ore is extracted by open-pit mining, while gold and diamonds are extracted by placer mining. Traditional, small-scale mining for gold and diamonds continues. Manufacturing enterprises are predominantly private and foreign-owned, and most serve the local market. Near Monrovia there is a petroleum refinery as well as a cement plant. There are also explosives, paint, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics plants. Bricks, tiles, cement blocks, lumber and furniture, soap, and footwear are also manufactured, and there are several distilleries. Finance The U.S.

dollar, previously the sole legal tender in Liberia, circulates alongside the Liberian dollar, the official currency minted by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL). Government revenues are derived from income, profits, property, domestic transaction, foreign trade, and maritime taxes. About one-third of economic development funding has generally been derived from foreign sources, both bilateral and multilateral. Among the several government-sponsored banks are the CBL, the National Housing and Savings Bank, the Agricultural and Cooperative Development Bank, and the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment. In addition there are private banks, insurance companies, and credit unions. Trade The United States and the countries of the European Union are the principal markets for Liberian exports. Rubber accounts for the overwhelming majority of Liberian export earnings, followed by gold, diamonds, coffee, and cocoa. Petroleum products and food are primary imports; others include machinery and transport equipment, beverages, tobacco, manufactured goods, lubricants, and chemicals. Asian countries, including South Korea , Japan, and Singapore , are the largest suppliers of imports. Services Instability and civil war have held Liberia’s potentially lucrative tourist industry in check. Tourist facilities are concentrated near beaches in Monrovia and Robertsport and near Lake Piso.

Many cultural attractions, such as the Monrovia Zoo and the National Cultural Center at Kendeja, were destroyed or looted during the war. Providence Island near Monrovia and the Kpatawee Waterfalls on the Zor River near Suakoko remain popular destinations for Liberia’s emerging tourist trade. Labour and taxation About one-fourth of the workforce is employed in agriculture; an equal number work in trade and tourism and the public sector. The rest work in manufacturing, sales, services, and administration and management. Some two-fifths of the total labour force is made up of women. More women than men are employed in agriculture. Liberia’s economy is mixed and there is no nationalization of industry. The government, which is the largest single employer, operates several public corporations. There is a national Federation of Labour Unions, a federation of trade unions, and several other employees’ unions. Transportation Only a small percentage of Liberian roads are paved. Primary roads connect administrative and economic centres and provide access to the road systems of neighbouring countries. Monrovia is the principal commercial port, and it also has facilities for transshipping iron ore and liquid latex.

Nimba Range iron ore is shipped from Buchanan, while the ports at Greenville and Harper are used primarily for the shipment of rubber and forest products. All ports are administered by the National Port Authority of Liberia. Liberia has two major airports, Robertsfield International, and James Spriggs Payne Airport, both near Monrovia. More than 100 airfields and airstrips dot the country’s interior. Government and society Constitutional framework Liberia’s government was patterned after that of the United States, with executive , legislative, and judicial branches. Political parties were legalized in 1984, and civilian rule was established in 1986. However, considerable political unrest and violence precluded any stable leadership in power from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. A power-sharing agreement in 2003 largely ended the fighting and created a National Transitional Government (NTG). The NTG, supported by United Nations peacekeeping troops, replaced the government under the 1986 constitution and ruled until a democratically elected administration was installed in 2006. The Temple of Justice in Monrovia, Liberia Carol Goldstein—Keystone/FPG Liberia is a multiparty republic.

Under the 1986 constitution, the head of state and government is the president, who is directly elected for a six-year term. Members of the bicameral National Assembly , who serve six-year terms in the House of Representatives and nine-year terms in the Senate, are also elected directly. Local government For administrative purposes, Liberia is divided into 15 counties. Each of the counties is headed by a superintendent, who is appointed by the president. Justice The judicial system comprises the Supreme Court, an appeals court, magistrate courts, and criminal courts. There are also traditional courts in some communities; the ethnic groups are allowed, as far as possible, to govern themselves according to customary law. Political process The 1986 constitution calls for a multiparty system. Major political parties and organizations include the Unity Party, the Congress for Democratic Change, the Alliance for Peace and Democracy , the United People’s Party, the National Patriotic Party, and the Liberty Party . The participation of women in Liberia’s political process was highlighted in late 2005 when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president, becoming the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa.

In the first decade of the 21st century, women held about one-seventh of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and some one-third of local government posts. In addition, women have served as ministers and deputy ministers in the cabinet and as justices on the Supreme Court. Health and welfare Conditions in Liberia were poor prior to the civil war, and they deteriorated further after years of war and unrest. Although much progress had been made in providing better health facilities, after the conflict subsided, the majority of these facilities were left in shambles or completely destroyed, especially in the areas beyond Monrovia. International relief organizations operated makeshift hospitals to serve the country’s health care needs, and reestablishing the health care infrastructure was a priority of the government. Malaria and measles are major health problems, and yellow fever, cholera, tuberculosis , and malnutrition are also prevalent. Dysentery, malaria , and diarrhea are major causes of infant mortality, which, at about 150 per 1,000 births, is high by world standards. The occurrence of HIV/AIDS in Liberia is increasing and is of growing concern.

Liberia’s rate of HIV/AIDS, although higher than the world average, is comparable to that of most neighbouring countries and is much lower than that of many other sub-Saharan African countries. Housing Housing in much of the country was damaged or destroyed by civil war and the following years of unrest; hundreds of thousands of Liberians were displaced. The country’s utilities infrastructure was also destroyed. When the fighting subsided in 2003, privately owned generators were, for the most part, the only source of power in the country. Water delivery and sanitation systems were adversely affected by warfare as well, and unsafe water conditions were a major source of disease during and after the conflict. Education Since 1939 education has been compulsory for children between ages 7 and 16 and is free at the primary and secondary levels. Institutes providing higher education include the University of Liberia (1951) in Monrovia, Cuttington University College (1889; Episcopalian) in Suakoko, and the William V.S. Tubman College of Technology (1970) in Harper. There are several vocational schools, including the Booker Washington Institute at Kakata , a government school.

The years of civil war and strife that began in the late 1980s and continued into the early 2000s disrupted education in Liberia: students were forced to flee with their families from the violence, and the majority of educational facilities and supplies were destroyed. After the peace accord of 2003, Liberia began the arduous task of rebuilding the country’s educational system. Page 1 of 2 Liberia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) A small country on the west coast of Africa, Liberia has been influenced in many ways by the United States. This influence has its origins in the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in Africa beginning in 1822. The government was modeled on that of the United States, and Monrovia, the capital and principal port, was named after United States President James Monroe. As Africa’s oldest republic, Liberia served as an important model for African colonies seeking independence. Area 37,420 square miles (96,917 square kilometers.) Population (2016 est.) 4,308,000. Article Contributors

Question: Which country is situated on the west coast of Africa between Ghana and Liberia?
Answer: IVORY coast